Donald Sterling Speaks: 'I Wish I Had Just Paid Her Off'

“I wish I had just paid her off,” Sterling reportedly told Jason Binn of Dujour Magazine.

NBA Commissioner Adam Silver banned Sterling for life on Tuesday and fined him $2.5 million after recordings surfaced on TMZ in which Sterling tells Stiviano that he does not want any “black people” at his games.

Stiviano’s lawyer has said she was not Sterling’s girlfriend and Sterling consented to being record with a third party present. One of Stiviano’s friends reportedly leaked the tape, according to her lawyer.

Sterling’s estranged wife, who has sued Stiviano, has said that Stiviano vowed to make Sterling pay. It was unclear whether Sterling was referring to a lawsuit or the audio recording regarding when he spoke about wishing he would have paid Stiviano off.